Illustration of Von Neumann's Minimax theorem in games?
Here is one of many web pages devoted to the application of Minimax in Tic-Tac-Toe solving: Minimax Algorithm in Game Theory | Set 3 (Tic-Tac-Toe AI – Finding optimal move)  

Google search will yield many such results. (I will return to this answer when I have more time, and post more links with more context.) 

Here's a high-level explanation on how minimax may be used in the non-chance, perfect information, sequential, partisan, zero-sum set of games [M]:


A non minimax evaluation function would look to place integers on the gameboard in positions that grant maximum value (power &amp; influence)
A minimax evaluation function would look to place integers on the gameboard in positions that maximize value while minimizing the max value of the opponents next placement


This is partly due to the utilization of "resource stealing strategies" in [M] games. 



Note: I need to do some more thinking on the sub questions regarding application beyond zero-sum, perfect-information games, but I don't see any issue with it.   Minimax/maximin has wide and fundamental utility in an array of contexts, not strictly related to games except in the sense that every problem can be understood as a type of game or puzzle.